Moves and Views

1 Brian Parsons [1], former national practice leader of mining at Marsh Canada Limited, is now chief executive officer of Willis Canada. Parsons, who has spent 22 years with Willis Canada, will report to Willis North America CEO Todd Jones, notes a statement from Willis North America. “The challenges facing the Canadian business community today are global in scope and organizations demand innovative solutions,” Parsons says. “With its global platform, advanced analytics capabilities and deep industry specializations, Willis stands ready to deliver innovative risk management strategies and solutions so that our clients have the greatest opportunity for success.” Willis Canada has more than 250 insurance professionals in offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.

2 Ironshore International has appointed Paul Primiani, former executive vice president of GCAN Insurance Company, as chairman of Ironshore Canada Ltd. Primiani has held executive positions with ACE Ltd., Reliance and American International Group Inc. (AIG). “This is an exciting opportunity to elevate recognition of Ironshore’s suite of specialty products, addressing the heightened coverage demand from companies operating in Canada and expanding into global markets,” he says.

3 Quebec insurance brokerages EssOR Assurances, Pratte Morrissette Inc. and Assuraction Inc. have signed an agreement in principle to create a new firm called EGR. Specializing in risk management, insurance and surety bonds, EGR will group together insurance brokerage services for medium and large businesses, including specialized lines. Louis Bélanger [3a], now chief executive officer of Pratte Morrissette, will serve as EGR president; Richard Drouin [3b], now president of Assuraction, will be executive vice president; and Simon Marchand-Fortier [3c], now vice president of Pratte Morrissette, will be vice president of operations. EGR will have nine offices and employ 150-plus people, including specialized brokers assigned to risk marketing, safety practitioners, legal experts and adjusters, while EssOR will continue its personal lines and small business damage insurance brokerage activities. Michel Duval [3d] will remain as EssOR’s president, and will serve as chair of EGR’s board. The transaction is expected to be finalized by year’s end.

4 Cunningham Lindsey Canada Claims Services announced in October the launch of its new global third-party administration (TPA) service, called inTrust, which the company reports “ensures centrally controlled loss reporting and claims handling in addition to the collection of cross-border portfolio data which can be accessed through a self-service portal.” Though the company already provides local TPA services, inTrust “means Cunningham Lindsey clients will now have a single entry point to a service where claims are centrally managed across multiple territories and classes of business.”

5 Ellen Moore [5], president and chief executive officer of Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, is among the recipients of this year’s Catalyst Canada Honours, which recognizes leadership and commitment to advancing women. Three years ago, Moore was a recipient of the Women’s Executive Network’s 2011 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, which recognize Canada’s highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and in 2006, she received a McGill Management Achievement Award. As well as Moore, Catalyst Canada honourees this year include Dean Johnson, past president and chief executive officer of Sodexo Canada Ltd.; Sharon MacLeod, vice president of personal care, North America for Unilever; Zabeen Hirji, chief human resources officer for the Royal Bank of Canada; and Howard Wetston, chair and chief executive officer of the Ontario Securities Commission. 

6 Ontario brokerage Cornerstone Insurance Brokers Ltd., whose existing locations are in Woodbridge, Markham and Barrie, has closed the purchase of Hartwell Thayer Insurance and Financial Services Limited. “We are looking to expand our footprint in the marketplace and this acquisition positions us well in a thriving community,” says Wendy DaSilva, chief executive officer of Cornerstone Insurance Brokers.

7 Economical Insurance announced in October that Dan Fortin [7], former president of IBM Canada Ltd., has been named to the insurer’s Board of Directors. Fortin fills the vacancy left by Scott Carson, who retired in February after 14 years on the board. Fortin had worked at IBM Canada for more than 35 years, retiring as its president in July. “Dan’s appointment further strengthens our board as part of our ongoing renewal process,” says board chair Gerald Hooper.

8 The Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) announced in October the launch of CSIO eXchange, an online forum for its members. CSIO eXchange seeks to build awareness and engagement by providing members with online forums and discussion groups that promote open dialogue, networking and the exchange of ideas. It has launched with one forum, to allow members to discuss topics such as workflow and technology pain points for insurance brokers, and plans to introduce forums for standards and forms working groups.

9 Xchanging plc of London, England, along with ProFormance Group Insurance Solutions (PGIS) of Pickering, Ontario, have jointly developed and launched a third-party administrative service. The companies report that the service is “specifically tailored to meet the needs of the Canadian market when processing London market business.” The service will include bordereaux transformation services, which “remove complex tasks and requirements around mapping, cleaning and validating risk, premium and claim bordereaux.” Other services include dedicated auditing teams, training programs and adjusters from various Canadian firms “to ensure the most qualified adjuster is used to suit an individual client’s needs.”

10 CARSTAR Automotive Canada Inc. has appointed Bill Goodwin as its director of business development. Goodwin has held senior management positions with PHH Arval and Belron Canada. With 20-plus years in the auto and fleet management industries, his background is well in line with the expansion of CARSTAR’s glass and retail services, the company reports.